Artok studies the charcoal map while Sera and Katie bind the surrendered raiders and keep their weapons beyond reach. The hooded ritualist remains secured among them, silent and watchful.
The route climbs above the mine into broken rocks. Smoke stains darken a sheltered hollow, and fresh footprints cross the dust toward a sagging hide shelter.
Raider 2
I know that place. What remains there is not yours to question.
Sera takes the lead with the captives, while Katie watches the rear. Artok gathers his gear, cracks his neck, and accepts water from Sera before rinsing his healed palm.
They reach the concealed camp without resistance. Beneath the hide shelter, a rough altar crouches in the dust, its surface blackened by old smoke.
A ritual knife stands driven through a strip of rune-marked iron on the altar. The grooves hold a dull warmth, though no flame or voice answers them.
Sera
Da, the camp is abandoned, but the altar is not. What do you make of that iron?
✓ Quest Accepted
Secure the rune-marked iron
“I question the raider about the altar's purpose”
FAILURE (Fair Intimidation, rolled -2)
“I question the raider about the altar's purpose”
SUCCESS (Fair Intimidation, rolled +1)
Artok studies the blackened altar, then looks to the bound raider. He cracks his neck, gathers his gear, and accepts water from Sera before cleaning his hand and wrapping it lightly.
Artok Rune
You know this altar's purpose. Tell me what it anchors, and what happens if we break it.
The raider studies Artok across the bound captives. Sera keeps one hand near her weapon while Katie circles the altar, careful not to touch the warm iron.
Raider 2
It anchors the lower mark. The iron is a tongue driven into the earth, and the knife pins its answer here.
Raider 2
Pull the knife, and the connection breaks. Scratch out the marked iron, and the rite loses this anchor entirely.
The dull warmth makes sense now: the altar is not opening anything. It is carrying the buried inscription's answer upward, through the pinned strip of rune-marked iron.
Sera
Then we can end this anchor here, Da. We should remove the knife and destroy the marked strip.
✓ Quest Accepted
End the altar’s connection to the lower mark
“I scratch out the marked iron and secure the broken strip. Then pull out the ritual knife from the rune-marked iron.”
SUCCESS (Good Knowledge (Occult), rolled +2)
Artok draws his rune-inscribed dagger and scores through the marked iron. The occult geometry resists only briefly before its lines break into dull fragments.
He pries the broken strip from the altar, wraps it securely in a scrap of leather, and sets it aside where its grooves cannot touch the earth.
The warmth drains from the altar. Among the bound Raiders, the hooded ritualist watches without struggle as Artok grips the knife hilt.
Artok pulls the ritual knife free in one steady motion. The pinned iron gives a dry click, and the last pale trace beneath the altar goes dark.
Raider 2
Then the lower mark has lost its tongue. You have severed this anchor completely, smith.
Sera
The camp is quiet now, Da. Keep the strip and knife separate, and this altar can answer nothing.
Quest Complete
Secure the rune-marked iron
Skill Upgrade: Intimidation Fair→Good
Quest Complete
End the altar’s connection to the lower mark
+ New Item Acquired
Broken rune-marked iron
+ New Item Acquired
Ritual knife